Device for carrying vegetables



April 4, 1961 T. KAILEY DEVICE FOR CARRYING VEGETABLES Filed Dec. 18, 1958 INVENTQR. Theodore lfaflay,

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r 2,978,154 DEVICEVFOR CARRYING VEGETABLES Theodore 'Kailey, 210 Playter St., Buifalo, N.Y. Filed Dec. 18, 1958, Ser. No; 781,221

Claims. (Cl. 224-55 This invention relates to carrying devices and more particularly to an improved device adaptable to carry one or more differently shaped and difiicult to carry vegetable products. The term vegetable products as used herein is intended to include fruit as well as vegv tables.

The objects of the present invention are to provide an improved carrying device which is adaptable to carry one or more different sizes and shapes or ditfcult to carry vegetable products; to provide such a device which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which can be sold at a low cost, or given away to promote the sale of produce.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from a perusal of the following detailed description and drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a carrying device constructed in accordance with the principle of this invention and adapted to carry a large vegetable such as the water melon indicated by dot and dash lines.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the device provided with another element arranged to adapt the device for carrying a pair of spherically shaped vegetables.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of one end of the handle taken longitudinally thereof.

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the non-skid face of one of a plurality of strap carried vegetable engaging devices and,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of an element for adapting the device for carrying a pair of the spherically shaped vegetables indicated in Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing, the device of the present invention is generally indicated by the number and comprises a handle portion 11 each end of which is formed with a depending leg 12 terminating in an outwardly extending foot portion 13. The free outer end of each foot portion 13 is formed with a transversely disposed slot 14 arranged therein to provide a thick stiff lower portion 15 and a thin resilient upper portion 16.

A pair of flexible straps 17 each provided with a suitable fastening device such as the buckle 18 arev each slidably mounted in one of the slots 14 to allow positioning its buckle in a desired selected location in relation to one side of the associated foot portion 13. And to insure against movement of the strap from said location during use of the device, the outer end of each stiff portion 15 carries an upright threaded stud or screw 19 which projects upwardly through a slightly larger opening 21 formed in the resilient portion 16 and which threadably carries a suitable nut or thumb screw 22. By turning the thumb screw 22 in one direction the portion 16 is caused'to grip and hold the associated strap 17 against undesired movement. By turning the thumb screw in the opposite direction the portion 16 releases the strap and allows it to be slid in the slot to any desired position or to be entirely removed therefrom.

The bottom side of the portions 15 are eachformed with suitable non-skid means, such as the integral sharpened crossed'ribs 23, which, when the straps 17 are drawn tightabout the produce to be carried and buckled, engage and slightly penetrate the surface of the produce, thereby acting to prevent relative movement in any direction between'the handle and the produce.

A pair of flattened loops 24, each formed with nonskid means, such as the integral sharpened crossed ribs 23' engage and slightly. penetrate the surface of the produce at its opposite sides when the straps are tightened, thereby acting to prevent relative movement between the straps and the produce.

The device described above is adapted for use in carrying vegetables having a shape like or similar to the shape of the water melon indicated in Figure 1. However, since it is desired to use the device for carrying a pair 1 of vegetables such as for example, the pair of spherically shaped vegetables] indicated in Figure 2, the device includes another member generally indicated by the numeral 25.

The member 25 is preferably formed with a resilient strip-like body 26 having the lower side of its opposite end portions each formed with a flattened loop 27 formed to slidably receive one of the straps 17 and having the upper side of its opposite end portions each formed with a non-skid means such as the plurality of sharpened crossed ribs 28.

The distance the straps 17 are spaced apart by the foot portions 13 is less than the distance they are spaced apart by the loops 27 of the member 25, with the result that, when the straps are engaged with the foot portions 13 and the loops 27 they diverge outwardly and downwardly from the handle.

This divergency of the straps 17 causes each of them to lie outwardly beyond the center C of the associated one of a pair of vegetables which can be carried by the device, when said straps are arranged, tightened and buckled thereabout as shown in Figure 2. This tightening of the straps 17 also causes the outer ends of the member 25 to substantially conform to the curvature of the associated vegetable, and the non-skid means to slightly penetrate the surface of said vegetables, whereby they are held in side by side abutting relation upon the member 25 against inadvertent displacement by the straps 17, the loops 24 and the handle 11. The length of the member 25 is predetermined to determine the divergency of the straps 17 so that they will always lie, at least partially, outwardly beyond the centers of any pair of vegetables which can be carried by the device. Therefore it will be seen that when said member is used with the device it may be used to carry any pair of spherically shaped vegetable coming within the range of sizes for which it was designed.

Furthermore, said member need not be removed from the device to adapt it for use in carrying a single vegetable such as that indicated in Figure 1.

It should be understood that the herein shown and described forms of the present invention are intended to exemplify its principles and, that modifications and rearrangements of its component parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims, wherein:

I claim:

1. An improved vegetable carrying device comprising a handle having each of its opposite ends formed with a depending leg terminating in an outwardly directed foot portion, the outer portion of 'each of said foot portions being formed with a transversely deposed slot arranged therein to provide a stiff lower portion and a resilient upper portion spacd and superposed thereabove, a pair of flexible straps each slidably carried in one of said slots in transverse relation to the handle for embracing a vegetable, means carried by each strap for securing it in a snug embracing relation upon the vegetable, and releasable means carried by each stifi foot portion operable to move the superposed resilient foot portion toward the stiff foot portion, thereby to grip and hold between said foot portions any portion of the associated strap, whereby the strap securing means may be secured in a selected position.- w t a 2. An improved vegetable carrying deviceas set forth in claim 1 wherein the lowermost surface of the stiff foot portions of the handle are each provided with nonskid means formed and arranged to slightly penetrate the surface of the vegetable and thereby prevent adventitious displacement of the handle on the vegetable.

3. An improved vegetable carrying device as set forth in claim 1 wherein a pair of flattened loops each having one side formed with a non-skid surface are each slideably carried by each strap with the non-skid surface engaged with one side of the vegetable thereby to prevent adventitious movement of the straps thereon.

4. An improved vegetable carrying device as set forth in claim 1 which includes a resilient strip formed to be and carried by the straps opposite to the handle for supporting a pair of spherically shaped vegetables, in side by side relation thereon, said strip being of a length greater than the length of the handle, whereby the straps diverge downwardly and outwardly from the handle and each embrace one of any pair of vegetables which can be carried by the device outwardly beyond its center and thereby prevent inadvertent displacement of such vegetables from the device.

5. An improved vegetable carrying device as set forth in claim 4 wherein the opposite end portions of the resilient strip are each formed with a non-skid means which slightly penetratesthe surface of the vegetable and thereby prevents inadvertent movement between the strip and the vegetables.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Edwards Apr. 20, 1875 

